Brain localisation

Question 1

What is localisation of function

Answer 1

belief that specific areas of the brain are associated with specific functions

Question 2

what is localisation of function also known as?

Answer 2

cortical specialisation

Question 3

What is hemispheric lateralisation?

Answer 3

the fact that both hemispheres are not entirely alike. each one has functional specialisations

Question 4

examples of hemispheric lateralisation…

Answer 4

left is dominant for language and speech, right side is dominant for visual-motor tasks

Question 5

what are the 4 functions

Answer 5

motor, somatosensory, visual, auditory

Question 6

what is the motor cortex responsible for?

Answer 6

generation of voluntary motor movements

Question 7

do both sides of the brain have a motor cortex

Answer 7

yes

Question 8

which lobe is the frontal lobe found in

Answer 8

frontal lobe

Question 9

what is the scientific name for the motor cortex?

Answer 9

precentral gyrus

Question 10

what is the somatosensory cortex responsible for?

Answer 10

processes input from sensory receptors in the body that are sensitive to touch

Question 11

which lobe is the somatosensory lobe located in?

Answer 11

parietal lobe

Question 12

that is the somatosensory cortex scientifically known as

Answer 12

postcentral gyrus

Question 13

do both hemispheres have a somatosensory cortex

Answer 13

yes

Question 14

which lobe is the visual centre located in?

Answer 14

occipital lobe

Question 15

how does visual processing work in the visual centre

Answer 15

processing begins at the retina at the back of the eye, nerve impulses from the retina are then transmitted to the brain via the optic nerve

Question 16

which lobes is the auditory cortex located

Answer 16

temporal lobes

Question 17

what is the auditory pathway

Answer 17

begins in the cochlea in the inner ear, where sound waves are converted to nerve impulses which travel via the auditory nerve to the auditory cortex

Question 18

what are the two language centres?

Answer 18

Broca’s area, Wernicke’s area

Question 19

What is the Broca’s area responsible for ?

Answer 19

speech production

Question 20

What is the Wernicke’s area responsible for ?

Answer 20

language comprehension

Question 21

What is the scientific name for the neural loop?

Answer 21

arcuate fasciculus

Question 22

A03- what is the equipotentiality theory

Answer 22

Limitation: basic motor and sensory functions were localised but higher mental functions were not. Intact areas of the cortex could take over the cognitive functions following an injury. Effects of damage to the brain would be explained by the extent rather than the damage to the location.

Question 23

AO3- Bavelier

Answer 23

Bavelier found a large variability in individual patterns of activation across different individuals. Other studies have found differences in gender in the size of the brain responsible for language

Question 24

A03- Aphasia studies

Answer 24

aphasia studies support the idea of localistion of function because they show that if a specific area of the brain is damaged then its associated function is also impaired

Question 25

A03- Lashley’s study as an extension of the equipotentiality theory

Answer 25

Lashley removed areas of rats brains that were learning a maze and found that no area was more important than any other area in learning the maze which suggests learning requires every part of the cortex and that learning is too complex to be localised to a specific location